NBA Power Rankings: How High Do the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic Climb?
The Eastern Conference underwent a major change this week with an injury to Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett and considerable alterations to the Orlando Magic roster.
The Orlando Magic added Gilbert Arenas, Hedo Turkoglu and Jason Richardson this month, while subtracting an aging Rashard Lewis and Vince Carter. Since losing their two first games following the acquisitions, the Magic have won five in a row, including games versus San Antonio, Boston and New York.
The Miami Heat have won 16 out of their last 17 games. The one loss came at home to the Dallas Mavericks by a margin of two points. Miami has looked nearly unstoppable at times, and blowout victories against Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York would suggest that this Heat team is not the same one from November.
Here are the Eastern Conference Power Rankings for the end of 2010...
15. Cleveland Cavaliers
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It looks like Dan Gilbert's promise of bringing an NBA Championship to Cleveland before LeBron James wins one is going to be difficult to fulfill.
The Cavaliers have the worst record in the Eastern Conference at 8-24. Cleveland has lost 15 of their last 16 games, with most of the games being blowouts with large margins of victory.
Mo Williams is Cleveland's leading scorer at just over 15 points a game, and the Cavaliers have averaged a measly 93.7 points a game. It looks like Cleveland is clearly lottery-bound this season.
14. Washington Wizards
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A recent altercation off the court between JaVale McGee and Andray Blatche has led the Wizards to pursue a trade for one, or possibly both, of them.
Washington sits at 8-22 in the basement of the Southeast Division. The Wizards have lost 10 of their last 12 games and will be without leading scorer Gilbert Arenas for the rest of the season.
While Nick Young and John Wall have certainly been promising this season, it seems as though the Wizards are more than a few players away from competing in the Eastern Conference.
13. New Jersey
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New Jersey just can't seem to find enough offense to win these days, averaging just 92.8 points per game, third worst in the NBA. There are few players on the Nets who have been able to contribute significantly outside of Brook Lopez and Devin Harris.
New Jersey is 9-23 and unlikely to find themselves in the playoffs again this year. Another team spurned by LeBron James, the Nets will keep pushing for Carmelo Anthony, as they simply do not have enough talent to compete this year.
12. Toronto Raptors
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The Raptors have been able to find the offense needed to win games. However, at 11-20, it seems that they just can't pull out the victories. Toronto has seven players averaging over 10 points per game, but the Raptors defense has rendered the offense irrelevant.
Toronto is allowing 104.5 points a game, the fifth most in the NBA this season. Andrea Bargnani has stepped up in the absence of Chris Bosh, but there is just not enough talent on this team to make the playoffs this season.
11. Detroit Pistons
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Detroit's most recent victory against the Boston Celtics is impressive; however, it loses a bit of luster considering that both Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett were injured.
The Pistons are the worst rebounding team in the NBA, with Ben Wallace leading the team at less than seven rebounds per game. Detroit has been below average both offensively and defensively this season.
Rodney Stuckey and a bunch of role players lead this team. Without any kind of overwhelming talent, the Pistons will be doomed to irrelevance in the Eastern Conference for years to come.
10. Charlotte Bobcats
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The Bobcats have performed below expectations this season, leading to the sacking of coach Larry Brown in favor of former Charlotte Hornets coach Paul Silas.
Charlotte is the second worst offensive team in the league, scoring just 92.5 points per game. On the other hand, the Bobcats are a solid defensive team, led by Gerald Wallace and Tyrus Thomas.
The Bobcats have won two in a row under Silas and do have the talent to possibly slip into one of the lower playoff spots in the Eastern Conference this year.
9. Milwaukee Bucks
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Speaking of bad defensive teams, the Milwaukee Bucks are the absolute worst in the NBA, averaging just over 90 points per game. The Bucks have also averaged the least amount of assists in the NBA per game, with Brandon Jennings as the only talented playmaker on the roster.
However, while the Bucks have been underperforming offensively, they do have the third-ranked defense in the NBA. Andrew Bogut is a double-double machine, and Jennings has been very good this season.
Milwaukee is another team that could find itself in a bottom seed in the Eastern Conference this season.
8. Philadelphia 76ers
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The 76ers have been much improved in the month of December, winning eight games to just six losses. Those eight wins have included victories against the Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Hornets and Orlando Magic.
Jrue Holiday has been much improved this season, and even Evan Turner emerged against the Phoenix Suns this week. Philadelphia should be able to continue their improvement and could be a threatening playoff team.
7. Indiana Pacers
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It truly demonstrates how top-heavy the Eastern Conference is when the Indiana Pacers, a 13-17 team, is the seventh best team.
Danny Granger has certainly been worthy of All-Star consideration this year, and Roy Hibbert has continued his steady improvement into a top five center in the NBA.
The Pacers have been merely average this season, both offensively and defensively, but they are one of the better rebounding teams in the league.
6. New York Knicks
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The Knicks have certainly cooled off as of late, losing five of their last seven games after an eight-game winning streak. To be fair, however, those losses have come against the Miami Heat (2), Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic.
New York has one of the most explosive offenses in the league, led by Amar'e Stoudemire's 26.4 points per game. The additions of Raymond Felton and Landry Fields, as well as the emergence of Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari, have made some question whether the Knicks actually should trade young talent for Carmelo Anthony.
Right now, the Knicks sit outside the elite teams of the Eastern Conference, but they are still miles ahead of the past decade of embarrassing Knicks teams.
5. Atlanta Hawks
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The Hawks again find themselves in the same position as the last few years. Atlanta is one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference, but they just don't seem to have the talent to compete with Miami or Boston.
The Hawks also seem to lose concentration at times, like in losses to New Jersey and Detroit in December. Still, the combination of Joe Johnson, Al Horford and Josh Smith, as well as contributions from Marvin Williams and Jamal Crawford, make the Hawks a dangerous team.
4. Chicago Bulls
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Derrick Rose has truly become a member of the NBA elite this season with his averages of 24 points per game and 8.5 assists. Carlos Boozer has been a terrific acquisition, and Luol Deng is quietly having yet another great season.
Joakim Noah's injury has certainly been a big hit for the Bulls to take, but with his return, the Bulls will have the best frontcourt in the NBA between Boozer and Noah.
Chicago could be a sleeper pick to make it to the Eastern Conference finals this year.
3. Orlando Magic
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The Magic seem to be on track after two initial losses following the acquisitions of Gilbert Arenas, Hedo Turkoglu and Jason Richardson. Orlando has won five games in a row, including victories against the Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks.
Dwight Howard is unquestionably the best center in the NBA. The Magic seem to be enthused with a youthful jolt since the trades, and Turkoglu clearly feels more comfortable as a member of the Magic.
The Magic will get their next real test when they visit Dallas on January 8.
2. Boston Celtics
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While they are the best defensive team in the NBA, the Boston Celtics have appeared very beatable recently, losing two of their last three. The losses came against the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons.
Rajon Rondo is still not back from injury, and Kevin Garnett hurt his surgically repaired knee against the Detroit Pistons this week.
The question with the Celtics will eventually fall to durability. If Boston cannot stay healthy in the playoffs, it will be a difficult matchup with the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls or Atlanta Hawks.
1. Miami Heat
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The Miami Heat, the hottest team in the NBA, have won 16 of their last 17 games, including a statement victory against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day.
LeBron James has been quietly rejoining the NBA MVP race. Dwyane Wade has scored 40 points or more in consecutive games against the Knicks and Rockets. Chris Bosh has been consistent and a much better rebounder during the month of December.
One important note is that the Heat went an NBA record 10-0 on the road in December. Miami looked invincible at times this December. However, the games against Washington and Dallas must remind them that there is much left to accomplish.
